ROSE LIQUEUR
In my previous life I used to trap smells. As a profession.

I used to collected the elusive aroma of plants with complicated glass vessels and solvent washes. I used the resulting extracts to test their behavior modifying effects.

Capturing scents is science and art at the same time. A scent has to be collected at the right time which can be based on season, time of the day or developmental stage of plant or animal. Scents come in very tiny amount and if badly handled will turn bad or disappear altogether.

Even the definition of the word perfume (a pleasant scent) is evanescent. From the Latin “per fumus” it means through smoke.

So it is that every spring I make a few walks with my daughter Tea to pick wild rose petals. Umbria is covered in wild flowers right now.

Rose essential oil (attar) is still the most widely used ingredient in perfumery. Hindus produced it as early as the 7th century AD. Tea likes the perfume on butter and bread. I only get help to pick if I use the harvest to make rose marmalade.

Only then I am allowed to use some of the bounty to make one bottle of rose liqueur. It’s delicate and subtly sweet. I keep it for a few months to mellow and age. When opened – generally in the fall – it’s quickly gone, it tastes like the perfume of spring.

Recipe

100 gr / 3.5 oz wild rose petals

500 ml / 2 cups 95 % alcohol or very strong vodka

400 gr / 2 cups sugar

500 ml / 2 cups of water

Clean up the petals from leaves and insects and place them in a clean jar, add alcohol, close and keep in a cool dark place for at least 2 weeks. If you forget it for 6 months it’ not a problem. Once extracted, the scent will just stay there, happily dissolved in alcohol.

When ready to bottle, prepare the sugar syrup. Bring the water and sugar to a low boil until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool. Filter the alcohol mixture and reserve the petals. Transfer the infusion in a bottle. Add syrup to the infusion. Stopper the bottle and keep in a cool dark place at least 2 months before using. It does improve with time, so if you can resist you’ll be rewarded.

The left over petals have a lovely taste. Place them in a pan with same weight of sugar and the juice of one lemon. Cook on low heat until dark amber and transfer in a jar. Use like a jam.

I have never attempted making liquor. I am ready to try it. I will definitely let you know how it turned out. Leave me a comment on my blog with your email, so I can follow up with you.
Thanks for sharing this new adventure for me

Love your blog, I found it googling to see whether pear & pecorino ravioli was a Marchigiani recipe (looks like not). My question relates to this post though – I’d love to be able to capture the herb essences of an Italian hillside in a bottle or candle -would you ever consider running perfume courses? Sounds like you have the right skills? Hope the suggestion isn’t too random!

You have saved me from discarding the spent petals in the compost! I will try cooking them with lemon into a “rose butter” spread! I am a food scientist by training and very intrigued by your “former life” and what it brings to your endeavors now! Cheers from a Minnesota Garden!

thank you Dara! I’d be most interested to know about the results and which rose varieties are suitable to cooking. I know some can turn out very bitter so it would be useful to tell other what works. enjoy the experiments!